Ottawa – Reports of Rogers Communications Inc.’s recent efforts to help fund the purchase of Wind and Mobilicity through a a Toronto-based investment firm only to gain a network sharing agreement are a sign of desperation in the ranks of Canada’s big three wireless carriers today said the Consumers’ Association of Canada (CAC) and the Public Interest Advocacy Centre (PIAC).
“Bell, TELUS and now Rogers are trying anything to keep the new entrants from being bought by Verizon and facing effective wireless competition” said John Lawford, Executive Director and General Counsel of PIAC. He noted that the Canadian government has been clear that it wants more wireless competition but that the big three are filing lawsuits, running media blitzes on their own extensive broadcasters and questionable behind the scenes deals to derail the chance for consumers to have four real wireless carriers across the country.
PIAC has prepared a rebuttal backgrounder on the big three wireless carriers’ rhetoric about wireless competition in Canada which is attached to this release.
Bruce Cran, President of the Consumers’ Association of Canada added: “Canadian consumers don’t buy the industry spin – they want lower wireless prices and they know that means stopping the big three from shutting out competition,” he added.
PIAC Rebuttal Backgrounder on Spectrum and Wireless Competition in Canada
For more information please contact:
John Lawford
Executive Director and General Counsel
Public Interest Advocacy Centre
ONE Nicholas Street, Suite 1204
Ottawa, Ontario
K1N 7B7
(613) 447-8125 (cellphone)
(613) 562-4002×25
(613) 562-0007 (Fax)
jlawford@piac.ca
Bruce Cran
President
Consumers’ Association of Canada
(604) 418-8139
bcranbiz@telus.net